Long-term changes of glaciers in north-western Spitsbergen

Sobota, Ireneusz; Nowak, Marcin; Weckwerth, Piotr

doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2016.07.006

Cited by 29 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…This is particularly evident in the gradual increase of air temperature, which has a major effect on contemporary changes in the cryosphere in that area (Sobota 2013). In the years 1997-2015, the mean air temperature during the summer season reached there 5.4ºC (Sobota et al 2016). …”

Section: Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Short-term changes in thermal conditions and active layer thickness in the tundra of the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen

Sobota

Dziembowski

Grajewski

et al. 2016

Bulletin of Geography. Physical Geography Series

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Abstract. This article describes and discusses the results of observations concerning short-term changes in the thermal conditions and the thickness of the active layer in a test field located in the tundra of the Kaffiøyra (NW Spitsbergen) during the summer season of 2015. One of the objectives was to find a correlation between the dynamic of the changes and the local topography. In recent years, thawing of the active layer in the Kaffiøyra region has been considerably varied in individual summer seasons. The test field area was 100 square meters, comprised 36 measurement points and was situated at approximately 3 m a.s.l. in the tundra. The measurements of the thickness and temperature of the active layer were carried out in July, August and early September of 2015. The greatest thickness of the active layer in the tundra was found near the moraine, in the area with the sharpest slope (156 cm to 212 cm). Ground temperatures were observed to follow the prevailing weather conditions with a delay, which amounted to about 24 h at a depth of 25 cm, and as much as 48 h at a depth of 75 cm. A greater thickness of the active layer was found in the western part of the test field, in the vicinity of a tidal channel, and in the eastern part of the field, bordering on the foot of the Aavatsmarkbreen's moraine. A considerable sloping of the land, combined with increased surface runoff and infiltration at the time of precipitation, makes the water penetrating into the active layer increase its temperature. This demonstrates that the local land forms (tidal channels and terminal moraines) have a substantial influence on the extent and rate of changes which occur in the active layer.Short-term changes in thermal conditions and active layer thickness in the tundra of the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen

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Section: Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The valley glaciers have shrunk by approximately 43% since the time of their maximum reach at the turn of the 20th century (Sobota et al 2016).…”

Section: Study Area and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term changes in thermal conditions and active layer thickness in the tundra of the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen

Sobota

Dziembowski

Grajewski

et al. 2016

Bulletin of Geography. Physical Geography Series

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“…1). This plain is 14 km long and up to 5 km wide (Sobota et al 2016a). The Kaffiøyra region covers an area of about 310 km 2 and is composed of two geological formations (Dallmann et al 1993;Hjelle 1993).…”

Section: Geomorphological and Geological Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology and surficial sediments of the Waldemar River confined outwash fan (Kaffiøyra, Svalbard)

Weckwerth

Greń

Sobota

2017

Bulletin of Geography. Physical Geography Series

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Abstract. The development and evolution of confined outwash fans in high Arctic regions depend on the rate of meltwater discharge, which is directly related to the glacier ablation rate, in turnassociated with climate conditions. Other factors controlling outwash fan morphology (e.g. depth and width of distributive channels) are processes of fluvial erosion, and the transport and deposition of sediments. These factors have not previously been considered together in relation to the evolution of the confined outwash fans which are commonly incised into the top of permafrost in the forefields of subpolar glaciers and in mountains in high Arctic regions. Morphology and surficial sediments of a confined outwash fan of the Waldemar River (NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard) were analysed on the basis of geomorphological and sedimentological studies. The results of our investigations show multiple relations between the depth and width of distributary channels, fan slope and textural features of glaciofluvial surficial sediments supplied into the fluvial system from the glacier and from lateral fluvial erosion of permafrost Morphology and surficial sediments of the Waldemar River confined outwash fan (Kaffiøyra, Svalbard)

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“…The Kaffiøyra region, located in the north-western Spitsbergen, the adjoining Aavatsmarkbreen (75 km 2 ) and the Dahlbreen (132 km 2 ) together comprise an area of about 310 km 2 (Sobota et al, 2016). It is a coastal lowland at Forlandsundet (Forland Sound).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Glaciers of this region are polythermal (Sobota, 2009(Sobota, , 2011. From the time of their maximum extent in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries to 2015, the total area of this region's valley glaciers has decreased on average by about 43 % (Sobota et al 2016). The Waldemarbreen is an alpine-type glacier running down the valley towards the Kaffiøyra.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne radionuclides and heavy metals in High Arctic terrestrial environment as the indicators of sources and transfers of contamination

Łokas¹,

Zaborska²,

Sobota³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Abstract. A survey of airborne radioactive isotopes (137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu, 241Am and 210Pb) and trace metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Fe, Al) in tundra soils and cryoconite hole material sampled from several locations in the Kaffiøyra region revealed high spatial concentration variability of the analysed samples. Lithogenic radionuclides (230Th, 232Th, 234U, 238U) show less variability than the airborne radionuclides because their activity concentrations are controlled only by mixing of weathered material derived from different bedrock. Activity ratios of the artificial radionuclides differ in most cryoconite samples from global fallout signatures. The contribution of radionuclides from other sources might be enhanced by non-continuous exposure of cryoconite to atmospheric deposition. We assumed that the main source of Pu, which is visible only in cryoconite samples, are derived from nuclear tests and non-exploded weapons-grade material. Approximately one third of the total observed Pu activity concentration is 238Pu originating from a SNAP9A satellite re-entry and subsequent injection of nuclear debris from stratosphere into troposphere. In samples from Waldemarbreen we observed the effect of glacial morphology on effective trapping and storing of airborne radionuclides. The differences in the concentrations of radionuclides between sampling points and differences in the elevation gradient from terminus towards icefall may reflect the homogenous topography of the glacier tongue. The trace metal concentrations in soils were typical or slightly higher than concentrations characteristic for natural background concentrations and the 206Pb/207Pb ratio also was close to the natural ratio for parent rocks. Conversely, trace metal concentrations in cryoconite samples (Pb and Cd) were higher than in soil samples and definitely exceeded natural values.

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Long-term changes of glaciers in north-western Spitsbergen

Cited by 29 publications

References 26 publications

Short-term changes in thermal conditions and active layer thickness in the tundra of the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen

Short-term changes in thermal conditions and active layer thickness in the tundra of the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen

Morphology and surficial sediments of the Waldemar River confined outwash fan (Kaffiøyra, Svalbard)

Airborne radionuclides and heavy metals in High Arctic terrestrial environment as the indicators of sources and transfers of contamination

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